The Dunlop M3 Winter Sport may be a winter tyre, however it is more feels "sporty" than many summer high performance tyres. This includes offerings from Bridgestone, Continetial, Goodyear and Michelin.
Even with spirited cross country driving the limit of these tyres has yet to found. They keep on gripping and conering progressively, with no suddenly breaking away. Just a slight reduction in grip when pressed hard through a corner.
They are very good in the dry and no deterioration in wet weather, including heavy rain.
When it is cold and frosty these tyres live up to their name, of Winter Sport. Sensible progress can be made during winter weather with being reckless.
These are the winter tyres recommended by Volkswagen for the Mk5 Golf. Volkswagen appear to have it right, as the M3 Winter Sport cope extremely well with the Golf's high torque and heavy weight.
The slight drawback of the purposeful directional tread pattern is that it is nosy for the initial few hundred miles, until the tyres are run in. These are stiff tyres so show up how British road surfaces may be considered to be not quiet as good as some of those in mainland Europe. However, this is a minor inconvenience for the very good feedback form these tyres.
The wear rate is very good, and after around 6000 miles have only worn through about 1.5mm of tread. This can be regarded as good for a heavy and high torque car like the Golf.
When the M3's eventually reach the replacement tread level, they will be among the replacement considerations. The other choices are to be the Dunlop 3D and Vredestein Wintrac, both of which are considered to be very good.